Belt-clasp.



G. E. SAOKETT.

BELT CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1912.

1,085,633, Patented Feb. 3,191

WITNESSES:

"COLUMB'IA PLANDGRAPH COUVWASHINGTON, D. :4

out the use of United States, which has since matured into CHARLES E.SAGKETT, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

BELT-CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3,1914.

Application filed November 9, 1912. Serial No. 730,420.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SAoiin'r'nf acitizen of the United States, residing at. Danbury, in the county ofFairfield and, State of Connecticut, have invented a new? and usefulImprovement in Belt- Clasps, of: which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a belt clasp, the object being to provide aclasp which per-3 ,mits one end of a belt to be secured to it,f

and the opposite end after being passed around the waist and through theclasp to, be drawn as tight as desired, the strain upon the belt beingtaken up by 'theclasp automatically and the belt held fast at anypointwhere such drawing action is stopped, withpins or punctures ordefacing the materials. 2

The clasp has the additional advantage over all pin clasps or bucklesthat it holds; the belt flat, and that the holding strain; bears equallyupon the entire width of the? belt, thus causing the clasp and belt tolie, fiat against the person. It is equally well adapted to be used as ascarf clasp when; Iloosely draped.

The front member of the clasp can be made in any of the ornamentaldesigns usual; to belt buckles or clasps, while the back member of theclaspto which is attached the mechanism may be hinged On June 8th, 1912,I filed Serial Application No. 702,633, in the Patent Office of thePatent No. 1,064,013, for a draw clasp, which patent described a claspwhich permitted cords, tapes, ribbons and the like to be drawn throughthe clasp in both directions, and which automatically held suchmaterials in fixed relation wherever such, drawing action was stopped.That invention consisted of twobody plates hinged and clasped together,open at opposite ends, and having a swinging central intermediate platewhich divided the clasp into two compart ments, in each of which anautomatic bond ing through the clasp in .opposite directions.

In the present invention, the same hinged and clasped body members areused, but as a belt is only drawn in one direction, the doublecompartment is unnecessary, and the central intermediate toothed plateis pivoted to either one of the clasp body plates, swings with it, andits teeth bear directly upon the opposite body plate across the passagethrough which the belt is being drawn.

The invention is fully described and illus- :trated-in the accompanyingspecification and drawings, in which Figure l, is a front view of a beltclasp, Fig. 2, an end view, Fig. 3, the back member of the clasp, thefront being removed, Fig. 4, the same with intermediate plate inposition, Fig. 5, a sectional view through line B, of Figs. 1 to 4,Figs. 6, and 7, show alternative spring movements, Fig. 8, a belt claspwith ornamental front member in po sition on a belt, Fig. 9, the sameclasp open for insertion or removal of a belt, the spring movement beingthat shown in Fig. 7

In all the figures like numerals relate to like parts. 7

1, and 2, are the two outer body members of the clasp, hinged togetheron one side by the hinge pivot 8, and clasped together on the oppositeside by the latch, 4. The body members are .shaped to provide a suitablespace between them, closed on all sides except inlet and outlet spaces 5and 6, at two of its opposite sides or ends, (see sectional Fig. 5.)

Within the clasp is pivotally secured near one side :of the back bodyplate member an intermediate plate 10. This plate is provided with aseries of teeth or projections 12, upon the edge opposite to its pivotededge. The plate has shoulders 8, turned at right angles to it at top andbottom, perforated to receive the pivot 9. The shoulders are fitted inslots 19, in the back body plate in which member the pivot is retained.The

spiral spring 13 arranged upon the pivot 9 as shown in Figs. 7, and 9.In either case when the clasp is closed upon the intermediate plate itcompresses the spring and a suitable pressure is exerted upon thetoothed edge of the intermediate plate to bear flexibly against theinside of the front body plate, or upon any ribbon, belt or scarf thatmay be passing through the clasp.

The intermediate plate when so compressed is nearly parallel with bothbody members, and its teeth lie so flat as not to puncture the beltmaterial, but by their slight inclination across the passage between theclasp body members, and a slight additional curvature at point aided bythe pressure of the spring successfully resist any return movement ofthe belt, while freely allowing it to be drawn through the clasp. Nearthe side of the back body member of the clasp, opposite to its pivotedside, a long slot 15, is perforated through it. In this slot is securedone end of the belt. To operate the clasp it only remains to pass thebelt around the waist over the face of the inter-' mediate plate in thedirection the teeth point, then to snap the clasp shut and draw the beltas tight as desired, and it will hold in any position until the clasp isopened by releasing the catch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a belt clasp, the combination of two body plates hinged togetherat one edge, and having a separable clasp-connection at another edge,said body plates being formed to provide a space therebetween, saidspace be ing open at the ends to form a passage between said bodyplates, an intermediate plate arranged in said passage pivotallyconnected at one edge to one of said clasp body plates, the oppositeedge of said intermediate plate being serrated, and swinging free tocontact with the interior surface of the opposite clasp body plate, aspring interposed between said intermediate plate and the clasp bodyplate to which it is pivoted, said spring causing said serrated edge tobear flexibly against the inner side of said opposed body plate, and toexert compression upon anymaterials passing between said intermediateplate and said clasp body plate, said serrated edge being so shaped asto allow free passage to a belt ribbon drawn through saidclasp in onedirection, and to resist any reflex action in a return direction.

2. In a belt clasp, the combination of two clasp body plate to which itis pivoted, said sprlng exerting an outward thrust upon the free edgeofsaid intermediate plate to open said clasp when said clasp-connectionis released, means to limit the outward thrust of said intermediateplate, the closing of said clasp compressing said spring thereby causingit to exert a flexible-bearing pressure on the free serrated edge ofsaid intermediate plate, and upon anything against which it contacts. f

3. In a belt clasp, the'combination of two body plates hinged togetherat one edge and joined by a separable clasp-connection, said body platesbeing formed to provide a space therebetween open at both ends toprovide a passage between them, an intermediate plate pivoted in saidpassage to one of said body plates and having a swinging movement atright angles to the movement of said clasp body plates, saidintermediate plate being flexibly arranged, and adapted to foldautomatically between said clasp body plates when said clasp is closed,and to exert automatically a lateral bearing pressure upon any materialsdrawn through said clasp in one direction, and to resist their return inan opposite direction.

4:. In a belt clasp, the combination of two body plates hinged togetherand joined by a separable claspoonnection, said body plates being formedto provide a space therebetween an intermediate plate arranged in saidspace, pivoted at one edge, and havinga swinging movement at rightangles to the movement'of said clasp body plates, an elongated slot madein one of said body plates parallel with the swinging movement of saidintermediate plate for the purpose of securing one end of a belt ribbonwhich has a parallel drawing movement across the face of saidintermediate plate.

5. In a belt clasp the combination of two body plates hinged together atone edge, and joined by a separable clasp at the opposite edge, saidbody plates being formed to provide a space therebetween, said spacebeing open at both ends to form a passage between said body platesparallel with their hinge pivot, and at right angles to their hingemovement, an intermediate plate arranged in said passage pivotally'con-' nected to said clasp body plates, said intermediate plate having'aswinging movement in line with the hinge movement of said clasp bodyplates, and an automatic springactuated independent swinging movementacross the line of said passage, said inter- Saonnrr, have signed myname to this speoimediate plate having a free serrated edge fication inthe presence of two subscribing adapted to release materials drawnthrough Witnesses, this 26th day of Sept. 1912.

said passage between said clasp body plates CHARLES E. SACKETT. 5 in onedirection, and to resist the return of Witnesses:

said materials. JAMES P. WILSON,

In testimony whereof, I, CHARLES E. A. H. WAOHENFELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

